Cody Petty is putting the “special” in special teams for Tallulah Academy.

The senior has three kick returns for touchdowns in the last three games, narrowly missed a fourth, and shredded Claiborne Academy for 261 return yards and two scores in last week’s 56-33 loss.

Petty is averaging 37.4 yards on nine kickoff and two punt returns heading into Friday night’s game against Wilkinson County Christian. Most of the damage has been done in the last four weeks, after he missed a Week 2 game against St. Aloysius because of a sprained ankle.

“It’s good blocking, but Cody has good athleticism and quickness,” Tallulah coach Nick Evans said. “Ever since that ankle healed, he’s done a real nice job.”

Petty hasn’t been the only bright spot on special teams. Five different players have returned kicks and combined for a 24.2-yard average. Defensive lineman Tyler Jobe even returned a pooch kick 55 yards for a touchdown against Baton Rouge Christian.

Evans said the strong performance is the result of getting returnable kicks.

“The last few weeks, people have been kicking to us. Before that, they hadn’t kicked to us. Now they’re probably going to stop kicking to us again,” Evans said with a laugh.